Sprouts: A Treasure Trove of Nutrients & Vitality Galore

In his glorious poetry collection entitled Leaves of Grass, Walt Whitman wrote: The smallest sprout shows there is really no death. As a food, sprouts are approximately 5,000 years old. In 2939 B.C., the emperor of China wrote about their versatile qualities, and these little gems still remain one of the most nutritious foods on earth. The humble sprout truly is one of nature's most amazing creations. If you'd like to listen to an interview I did on the ABC's of growning and consuming sprout, click the playbar below:

When I was a teenager, my grandmother taught me how to grow sprouts and educated me on their benefits for healing the body and restoring vitality. Consuming and growing sprouts has been dear to my heart for 40 years. If you were to visit my kitchen today as I'm writing this, you would find the following sprouts growing with some ready to harvest and others in the early soaking stages: Red Clover, French Blue Lentils, Red Lentils, Garbanzo, Alfalfa, Radish, Sunflower Seed, and Wheat Grass. For years, I've purchased my organic sprouting seeds (I always get organic seeds for sprouting) through this top-notch company — Handy Pantry. It's a family-run business with a commitment to excellence and a contagious passion for the best sprouting seeds and a variety of sprouting supplies.

If you read any of the previous six blogs about sprouts and growing them, it's already evident to you that I have a passion for sprouts — eating them, growing them, and teaching others of their nutritional value and life-enhancing qualities. Whether you enjoy alfalfa sprouts, lentil sprouts, red clover sprouts, or sunflower seed sprouts, or perhaps you've never tried any sprouts at all and want to learn more about them, here's some information on the nutritional value of a variety of sprouts with some simple suggestions on how you can incorporate them into your diet. In this blog, I'll feature the nutrients found ln the sprouts of Barley, Broccoli, Buckwheat, Chinese Cabbage, Fenugreek, Garbanzo, Green Pea, Lentil, Mung Bean, Radish, Red Clover, Red Winter Wheat, and Sunflower Seed Sprouts. Here's a 2-part radio interview I did on the program Bloom Talk that you might enjoy where I talk about my passion for growing sprouts and using them to help heal the body and mind. Click HERE to listen.

The Healing Benefits of Broccoli Sprouts & Wheatgrass Juice

Previously, I wrote about growing wheatgrass in your home and juicing it. I have grown my own wheatgrass for juicing or have purchased freshly-made wheatgrass juice at juice bars and natural food stores for decades. Sprouted wheat that grows into wheatgrass about 8 inches long is a potent source of concentrated nutrition. As it grows, wheatgrass concentrates chlorophyll and other nutrients in preparation for becoming a big, fruitful plant. Wheatgrass itself is not digestible in our stomachs because it is too full of cellulose and other indigestive fibers. But when juiced and strained, all the nutrients are freed up and are readily assimilable by the body. And wheatgrass juice is a very powerful overall body detoxifer. Its high chlorophyll content cleanses the liver, tissues, and cells and purifies the blood. Placed in the nose, a few drops can reduce inflamed nasal passages and sinuses, relieving congestion without chemicals. Gargling will help relieve a sore throat. Wheatgrass is an excellent natural mouthwash and breath deodorizer. It will leave the breath smelling naturally fresh while nutrifying the gums and delicate tissues of the mouth. Some have used it on the skin to relieve pain and skin problems.

The Handy Pantry Company has a variety of wheatgrass juicers from which to choose, as well as Wheatgrass Kits and organic wheat seeds. Their team of experts can help you make the best choices for you. As I mentioned last time, wheatgrass and other sprout juices are best taken right after juicing for highest nutritional content. You can refrigerate for a day or two if you use an airtight jar. It will keep for a longer period if frozen quickly right after juicing. Wheatgrass juice is a super tonic for the whole body; it's rich in antioxidants, enzymes, simple sugars, chlorophyll, vitamins, and minerals. Before I extol the virtues of broccoli sprouts, below is some more information on the healing benefits of wheatgrass juice and how it became popular. Also, you'll enjoy this short YouTube Video of an American 48-state trucker who grows wheatgrass and sprouts in the cab of his truck. If he can grow it on the road while he's working, we can certainly grow the wheatgrass and other sprouts in our kitchens.